Lucius Vs King

By Cryptos

Note to reader: This takes place not only six years before the WC but also before Lucius was stripped of his powers in a battle of survival which he is slowly regaining them over time.

Six years before the rise of the WC. It always seemed to be rainy in this city. King thought to himself as took a swig from the bottle in hand, the foaming brown beer relaxing him a bit, but something was off. The moment him and Angel entered Hudson City it felt like something was watching them, something… inhuman. A shiver ran down his spine as lightning struck outside his hotel room window and he bolt from the chair taking deep breaths to calm himself. Why was he afraid? He didn’t know. His powers made it easy for him and Angel to get the room and not a single person could them, but still some sinister hung in the air and for the first time in years it wasn’t him.

A shout tore his attention back to the hotel room and the bathroom. A string of Spanish curses met as he pushed the door open to see Angel covering herself in a towel and the mirror shattered as the steam from her shower curled in the air.

“What happened!?!” He shouted rushing to her side.

“There was something in the mirror!” Angel pulled the towel tighter to her chest. “King, what the hell is wrong with this city?”
He looked at the shattered mirror and felt his skin crawl as some shadow moved behind his reflection.

“I don’t know but it’ll work for me!” He spat at the shards of glass as there was a knock at the hotel room door. King answered the door while Angel finished getting dressed. King took a breath before opening the door, where he expected a thug or someone similar found a teenage girl with snow white skin and black hair.

“You wanted to speak to the lord of this city?” The girl asked unafraid as she looked up at him. King laughed and looked down at her feeling a little silly at being afraid of all this crap.

“Yeah I want to talk to the man in charge, that a problem!” King half shouted trying to intimidate the girl. She merely blinked up at him.

“As soon as you’re ready he is ready to meet with you sir. “ Her voice was neutral and polite, unshaken by the man that had scared drug lords and pimps in line. “It is a short drive, but a safe one.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” King questioned shaking a finger in her face.

That while we’re enroute no harm will come to both you… afterward that depends on him.” Her voice never changed. King was half tempted to use his power on her, she was pretty and would probably fetch him some money back in Detroit, but something seemed off like the rest of Hudson City.

****

Minutes later the trio sat in the back of a Rolls Royce decked out in black leather with mini fridge.

“Help yourself.” The girl motioned politely to the drinks and glasses. “I’m not old enough to serve alcohol yet.” King glared at her and wrapped an arm around Angel.

“Pour me a drink.” He commanded tired of this city seeming to push him around. The girl squinted for a moment a look of concentration crossed her face as the car moved down through the city. Her hand stopped inches from the bottles and shook her fingers grasping for the bottles, but only catching her. Her face grew red and King felt something push back against his power. A presence, a power, a command, wrought out of loyalty… No.

The word struck like a slap to the face.

“I’m sorry, but he doesn’t want me touching it because of my age and it is his city.” The girl said after gasping for breath and relaxing.

“You brat.” Angel growled and pulled her knife only for the car to stop.

“We’re here.” She said politely as she slid across the seat and out the open door. Outside the car was stopped before an abandoned subway entrance above were a few words they didn’t understand.

“What does that say?” Angel asked motioning toward the words.

“Hail to the King Below.” The girl answered taking the step down into the dark.

“King, This is a trap.” Angel whispered looking after her as the girl sank into dark.

“We got this, I’ll just work my magic like always.” He tried to give her a confident smile. It didn’t take, but he stepped down the stairs into the dark.

The dark gave to flickering candlelight as they reached the bottom of the steps. Seated across the platform was in a high back armchair was man dressed in black with a bottle in an ice bucket and lit candelabra next to him. The girl stood before him and offered her hand. He smiled and took it planting a kiss on it.

“Thank you my dear.” His voice rang out deep and cold. “Run along know you have homework to finish.” The girl gave a frown, but obeyed stepping into the dark beyond the candle light.

“So you’re the big boss around!?!” King shouted as he walked up just puffed out. ‘Well not for long ya pasty MotherF***er!” The man paid him no heed and pour himself a glass from the bottle before sipping it.

“Children are quite precious aren’t they?” He asked licking his lip. “My apologies I’ve to introduce myself. I am Lucius Civilis Maximus, lord of this city.” He raised his glass to them and went back to watching the way the girl left with a soft smile that didn’t seem to fit his feature.

King grit his teeth. This b****** wasn’t taking him seriously. He quickly walked up to the chair put his hand on its armrests with his face nose to nose with Lucius.

“Get off the chair and give me this f***ing city you creepy motherf****er!” King commanded and reached out with his power. Lucius slowly turned his attention to him, both physical and mental, as King watched those cold eyes turn toward him his power found something. It was cold, dark, staring back at him from behind those eyes. That soft smiles left Lucius’ face and he sat his drink down. Lucius calmly put his hand against King’s chest and with a flex of his fingers flung him back with an invisible force slamming him against the cracked tile wall of the subway. King coughed, trying to understand what happened as Lucius slowly stood from the chair.

“I do hope you didn’t speak to Camilla in such crude terms, otherwise you won’t make it home.” Lucius’ voice brought out of his shock.

“Ahh!” Angel screamed and rushed at Lucius burying her knife into his chest where his heart should be. He blinked down at her with a raised brow.

“Impressive, but the adults are talking.” Lucius said calmly casting her aside with a flick of his right as the temperature dropped causing frost to spider out form Lucius feet.

“Sit back down!” King yelled trying to command Lucius only for him to casually walk closer and pull the knife from his chest before dropping it..

“It seems you are under the impression you have power here.” Lucius stood over him and raised a hand. “You don’t” His tone was nonchalant as his hand slapped across King’s face spending him spilling across the floor sliding face first in the grime. King struggled to stand but the world spun around him. Angel was at his side trying to help him to his feet as Lucius watched with disdain and disinterest.

“Diablo!” Angel shouted at Lucius pulling the gun from King’s side and shooting it at Lucius only for him to catch the bullet between his fingers with a sigh.

“I thought this would be a good hunt, but you two are merely impressive vermin, deserving only to be eaten by vermin.” Lucius raised a hand and the chattering of rats flooded the subway. A legion of them swarmed from the subway tracks parting around Lucius feet. “I will give you until sunset to leave my city, but only if you leave here alive first.” Lucius form fell away into dark mist that rushed pass them and up the stairs as the rats closed in on the pair.